Southern Fried Okra
I have heard Northern replants say they can't stand okra, and I say anyone who thinks they don't like okra has never tasted Southern Fried Okra, Maybe you have eaten slimy half cooked okra, Well , let me tell you that is not Southern style. I am going to tell you how to cook okra to die for. I am a Southern girl, born and bred in Georgia, and if there is anything I know, it is how to cook okra. First of all the best tender okra comes out of your own garden but if you must get it from the grocer, get the smallest tender pods you can find. Pass over the big pods, it is not worth buying and you can't eat it. I think some people have bought and tried to eat these old tough pods and that is why they think they don't like okra. Anyway, take your small tender pods and do not put them in water. Wipe them with a damp paper towel. I will tell you just what to do below.
1. Buy as many small tender okra pods as you want.
2. Wipe with a damp paper towel.
3. Get out a good sized bowl
3. Slice okra across in thin slices into the bowl
4 Get out flour and corn meal in about equal amounts
5. Mix flour and cornmeal in okra, enough to cover okra well.
6. Get out your frying pan, big enough to not crowd your okra to much
7. Pour olive or canola oil in pan, according to how much okra you have, you want the oil to come up about half way to the top of okra when you get it in the pan.
8. Heat the oil but not to hot.
9. Pour in okra, you will have some flour and meal left in bottom of bowl. Don't put that in.
10. Cook on medium heat turning ofen till brown.
11. When it's done, turn out on paper towels.
12, Eat while hot.
Fried okra is good served with collard or turnip greens, pinto beans, mashed potatoes, corn bread and sliced red tomatoes. Add a sweet Vidalia onion and you have a Southern feast.
I hope you transplanted Northerners or anyone else who doesn't know how to cook okra, will try this bit of the South and let me know how your okra turns out.
